news details |
|
|
| Amarnath Yatra begins, protests follow | | Amarnath Yatra begins, protests follow | | xARTEEV SHARMA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 30: Undeterred by tense situation due to the curfew imposed in different parts of Valley, the first batch of pilgrims left Jammu for holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva in South Kashmir amid tight security arrangements here, marking the beginning of 55 days long annual Amarnath pilgrimage.
Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora accompanied by senior official of the district administration flagged off the 53 vehicles convoy of pilgrims comprising 566 male, 230 females, 32 children and 444 Sadhus, escorted by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel for Pahalgam and Baltal base camps in Kashmir valley from Amarnath Yatri Niwas in Bhagwati Nagar at around 5:00 a.m.
"Nearly 500 pilgrims are leaving for Kashmir Valley. All arrangements have been made and there would be no inconvenience to pilgrims. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure smooth conduct of pilgrimage and provide fool-proof security arrangements," Jora said.
Farooq Khan, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Jammu-Kathua range said, "Adequate security measures are in place between International Border and city and Yatra route and where so ever some kind of strengthening would be required that would also be done."
He claimed that jawans of Jammu and Kashmir Police, who have been playing a pivotal role, are being assisted by the personnel of Para-military forces to ensure fool-proof security of the pilgrims visiting the holy cave shrine of Amarnath.
"We cannot disclose the security measures being put in place but our cops are on tight vigil to avert any untoward incident," the DIG said. He however, ruled out any threat to disrupt the holy pilgrimage from any terrorist outfit.
Meanwhile, enthusiast pilgrims left for holy cave shrine chanting religious hymns and slogans like "Bam Bam Bhole…", "Jai Shiv Shanker" etc.
Ram Mishra, a BSNL employee from Meerut, while expressing satisfaction over the arrangements being made by the administration, said "the arrangements being put in place by the authorities are good and we are hopeful that pilgrimage would be smooth and hurdles free. We are not afraid of tense situation in Kashmir Valley as all the necessary security arrangements are made by the agencies."
Another pilgrim from Karnataka also shared the same views and hailed the arrangements made at Bhagwati Yatri Niwas. "Fool proof security arrangements are put in place here. We are optimistic for smooth pilgrimage."
Earlier, before the first batch of pilgrims was flagged off the entire route of the yatra was sanitised by the road opening parties of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) along the 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
Sniffer dogs were also stationed at the base camp to detect the presence of any explosive material in and around the base camp to prevent any possible militant strike.
It may be mentioned here that the CRPF has deployed 50 companies comprising 6,250 men and officers while the Army has set up 97 area domination posts in and around the cave shrine in Lidder Valley, besides Pahalgam and along the route in Anantnag, Ramban and Udhampur Districts.
The Border Security Force (BSF) would secure two routes of the north and south Kashmir and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as well as the local police would guard the base and transit camps on the pilgrimage routes. Nearly 3,000 BSF troopers have been airlifted to guard this year's yatra.
"We have set up 14 medical camps along the north Kashmir route and 11 on the south Kashmir route. Twenty-one ambulances have been kept available along the two routes," said official sources.
Divisional Commissioner, Pawan Kotwal, IGP Jammu Zone, AK Gupta, DIG Jammu Farooq Khan and other senior police/civil officers besides social, political and religious leaders were also present during the flag off ceremony.
In the meanwhile, Police have appealed the people not to pay any heed to the rumours which are being spread frequently by mischievous elements to create tension in the State. It said some anti social elements for their ulterior motives are trying their best to break the social fabric of the State.
People are requested that for any clarification they should contact the Police Control Room (PCR) Jammu on phone numbers 2542000, 2542001 and 2560401 and PCR Srinagar on phone numbers 0194-2452138, 2483596.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
